Category Archives: Arts

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Nika Lucks

Posted on February 2018 by Rachel Storm

A column curated by staff of the Urbana Public Arts Program Nika Lucks is a local photographer originally from the Chicago Southside. Her most recent work, People of Speech: Part I, draws inspiration from parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Arts | Comments Off on ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Nika Lucks

The Water Project: Examining our relationship with our most precious resource

Posted on June 2017 by Nancy Dietrich

Nancy Dietrich is a resident of Urbana who became an environmentalist because she likes to breathe clean air and drink clean water. “Destruction of water resources and of forest catchments and aquifers is a form of terrorism. Denying poor people … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts, Community, Environment, Human Rights, Voices of Color | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Water Project: Examining our relationship with our most precious resource

Hip-Hop and the Black Radical Tradition in CU

Posted on November 2016 by Sunny Ture

i must confess that waltzes do not move me. i have no sympathy for symphonies i guess i hummed the Blues too early, and spent too many midnights out wailing in the rain. Assata Shakur – Culture The tradition of … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Arts, Youth | Comments Off on Hip-Hop and the Black Radical Tradition in CU

IMC Gallery: Art Under Pressure

Posted on May 2016 by Travis Hocutt

The IMC Gallery is excited to announce Art Under Pressure featuring works from student artists from Centennial High School: Nellie Haug Amy Janson Brenda Gonzalez Salinas Avalon Ruby Adriana Ortiz Carolyn Cai Hannah Schriefer Pascale Grant Veronica Miller Opening Reception: … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts, IMC | Comments Off on IMC Gallery: Art Under Pressure

City and IMC Announce $50,000 grant for creative placemaking from the NEA

Posted on May 2016 by Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center

Downtown Urbana is about to become a lot more creative – thanks to the vision of local youth, the City of Urbana, the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center (IMC), and the National Endowment of the Arts. The NEA has announced awards … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts, UC-IMC, Voices of Color, Youth | Comments Off on City and IMC Announce $50,000 grant for creative placemaking from the NEA

Youth Poetry

Posted on April 2016 by Public i

MY CURLY HAIR by Amina Alamin My curly hair can do anything it can be in big braids and in little braids and curled in to ringlets and many more things. Some people don’t like my hair and some people … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Arts, Community Forum, Education, Policing, Youth | Comments Off on Youth Poetry

Citizens Divided: the Presidential Campaign and Film

Posted on April 2016 by Audrey Wells

Audrey Wells (Audrey Wells is a retired educator, freelance writer, and co-author of The Art of Theater: Playing Movies for 100 Years.) In an important film from the 2008 presidential race, Ann Coulter warns of Hillary Clinton: “She’s far more … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts | Comments Off on Citizens Divided: the Presidential Campaign and Film

Cuba Libre?

Posted on March 2016 by David Prochaska

By David Prochaska President Barack Obama visited Havana March 2016. Perhaps even more important, the Rolling Stones played a free concert right after. Commercial airline flights to Cuba are likely to begin in October. Even as the US moves to … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts, Cuba, International, Politics | Comments Off on Cuba Libre?

Picture Yourself Watching a Painting Dry and Loving It

Posted on January 2016 by Audrey Wells

Ready for a brain change? Try watching a languorous, lovely film. Skill is required. But like a meditation practice, it is worth the effort. Or travel the world through imagination and time. I suggest four vehicles below from South Korea, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts | Comments Off on Picture Yourself Watching a Painting Dry and Loving It

Mother Nature EP by Klevah and T.R.U.T.H: The Elements Personified

Posted on November 2015 by Ruth Nicole Brown

There is no greater time to be a hip hop head in Champaign-Urbana. While the towns have always boasted superb talent―there is deep hip hop history here―that two emcees joined forces to create something new is newsworthy. Shasta Knox a.k.a … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Arts, Voices of Color | Comments Off on Mother Nature EP by Klevah and T.R.U.T.H: The Elements Personified